Story perspectives

Supreme Court Upholds Block, Virginia Retains 2021 Map

5/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Virginia Democrats' emergency appeal, keeping the Virginia Supreme Court's block on the voter-approved congressional map.
The map, approved by 51.7% of voters, would have added four Democratic-leaning districts and given Democrats ten of eleven seats.
With the deadline passed, the state will use 2021 boundaries for the 2026 elections.
Republican leaders Ryan McDougle and Jeff Ryer praised the ruling as an affirmation of the Virginia Supreme Court.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in Shaw v. Reno, written by Justice William Rehnquist, that racial gerrymandering must survive strict-scrutiny under the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision forced states such as North Carolina to redraw districts and now underpins the Virginia Supreme Court’s recent injunction against a voter-approved congressional map, reaffirming constitutional fairness over partisan design.

1 of 2

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Virginia Democrats' emergency appeal, keeping the Virginia Supreme Court's block on the voter-approved congressional map.
The map, approved by 51.7% of voters, would have added four Democratic-leaning districts and given Democrats ten of eleven seats.
With the deadline passed, the state will use 2021 boundaries for the 2026 elections.
Republican leaders Ryan McDougle and Jeff Ryer praised the ruling as an affirmation of the Virginia Supreme Court.

1 / 2